There was a German TV crew at Insurgence. They interviewed Michael, asked about Smallville and got this quote:

Michael: "You know that's a tough question. I don't know. We've tried to work things out. I don't know if they're going to work out. Maybe they will, maybe they won't. I never say "no" to anything. I don't, you know? I'm open. It just has to work out right. It has to be right. So if that happens...I miss the guys. I miss the crew and cast. I had a great time. I was there for 7 years. A lot of people don't realize but it was 7 years. You know, I thought I was finished, but who knows? You never know."

Here's the video but be warned - if you open it in firefox, it will crash. Must be opened in IE. Features lots of Michael-cuteness: hoisting babies, flirting in German and a nice clear view of him talking about Tom's "courtship":

What I don't understand is why he has no problem making money off of his character of Lex Luthor at Smallville conventions and yet won't commit to playing him one last time for the fans (and most importantly, for Tommy!!)

What I don't understand is why he has no problem making money off of his character of Lex Luthor at Smallville conventions and yet won't commit to playing him one last time for the fans (and most importantly, for Tommy!!)I think that interview shows he's open to it - but as he says, he wants it to be "right." Which is likely why he turned down Requiem because that was an awful use of his character (And some fans talked to him about that at this same Con.) There are fans that want him to return - but there are also a lot of fans who worry that the writers will destroy his character if he comes back, ie write him like the Lex-clone was written in Lazarus: horribly. I'm very grateful to him for turning Requiem and Lazarus down.

I also don't think he owes it to fans, or to Tom, to return. He put in a great seven years.

Oh, Tas, I finally got a chance to watch the vid, it was wonderful!! A great report on the Con, and an even better account of what makes Michael so very special. And he looks amazing! Loved him speaking German, so cute. I felt bad for Michael when he was talking about the possibility of returning to Smallville. He sounded a bit beleaguered. :( I have to think their differences center around storyline, we've heard the show is okay with a bald cap, and I can't imagine that money is a huge issue (Michael's not greedy, and I'm sure they want him badly enough to pay). But I can see the story being a problem, and I don't blame Michael for wanting to make sure the script is worthy.

I'm sure Michael doesn't enjoy all the blame some people are heaping on him. The way he pointed out that people don't seem to remember that he was on the show for 7 years was telling, I think. There's a horrible comment on this vid on YouTube right now. It made my heart hurt to read it, and it made me want Michael to say no to the show on principle. I don't want jerks like that to think their lame attempts at emotional blackmail worked.

I don't know what to think about the chances of Michael returning. James Gunn says no, Lacroix says no, James Marsters says no, I'm back to thinking there's no way it will happen. Whatever happens, I just hope people understand that Michael has to follow his heart, and do what is right for him. Thanks so much for sharing the vid!

I have to think their differences center around storyline, we've heard the show is okay with a bald cap, and I can't imagine that money is a huge issue (Michael's not greedy, and I'm sure they want him badly enough to pay). But I can see the story being a problem, and I don't blame Michael for wanting to make sure the script is worthy.You'd figure if they can afford Teri Hatcher, they have more than enough cash for Michael. I agree: he's not going to return for a horrible plotline. And if he does, he knows there will be a whole other set of fans who will be upset. (At the Con, a friend of mine said to Michael: "If you go back, YOU must write your plot, after what they did to Lex in S8." He was quite amused.)

I felt bad for Michael when he was talking about the possibility of returning to Smallville. He sounded a bit beleaguered.That was at least the fifth time he'd answered the question, poor baby, & I think he was getting a little tired.

It made my heart hurt to read it, and it made me want Michael to say no to the show on principle. I don't want jerks like that to think their lame attempts at emotional blackmail worked.Those same people will be all over him with praise if he returns. I just worry about people being angry with him for the next 20 years if he doesn't do a cameo :(

I don't know what to think about the chances of Michael returning. James Gunn says no, Lacroix says no, James Marsters says no, I'm back to thinking there's no way it will happen. Whatever happens, I just hope people understand that Michael has to follow his heart, and do what is right for him.I hope so too..if he has made up his mind, I think it would be better to just say a decisive "no" as he has before. I'll adore him regardless but it's better to put it out there now, rather than let people get their hopes up.

Every time I post about Michael my quotes seem to get picked up by every SV site so I'm rather regretting having done so now. We're a small, gossipy fandom :(

Every time I post about Michael my quotes seem to get picked up by every SV site

I know! My Google Alerts for Michael have been full of sites quoting you lately. They may have your LJ bookmarked now as a great source for MR news. I figure it must have started because of Twitter, from G quoting you via sv_awareness, or others re-tweeting you using Michael's full name. A lot of your original tweets didn't have his last name, IIRC. In any case, people are desperate for news about his possible return, so they're on the prowl for quotes.